By Erik Gudris | Thursday, September 1, 2022
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus after their second round US Open match.
The No. 26 seeded Azarenka won the match 6-2, 6-3 to reach the third round.
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When Azarenka extended her hand up at the net, Kostyuk responded by extending her racquet and tapping her opponent’s racquet instead.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk refused to shake the hand of Victoria Azarenka of Belarus after her straight sets defeat at the US Openpic.twitter.com/oDWQel5tkX
— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) September 1, 2022
Kostyuk, who has expressed disappointment in Belarusian and Russian players not condemning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, explained her actions afterward.
“I feel like I don’t know any single person who condemned the war publicly, and the actions of their government. I don’t feel like I can support this, the World No. 65 Kostyuk said afterwards. “We had a great match, don’t get me wrong. She’s a great competitor, I respect her as an athlete but that has nothing to do with her as a human being.”
Kostyuk also said that she texted Azarenka on Wednesday to warn her she would not shake Azarenka’s hand post-match. She also wanted to have a conversation with Azarenka about the conflict, but Azarenka was not on site that day for that to occur.
Former world No. 1 Azarenka said she’s open to face-to-face discussion.
“I’m always open to listen. I can’t force people to do something they don’t want to do,” Azarenka said. “But any time, she has my number, as you know, she texted me, and all others, as well.
“Whatever I can do to help people, I don’t play political games, I don’t play media games, that’s not what I’m here for. I’m very direct person. I mean, many of you know me for many years. I don’t go around the corners. I go straight to the person.
“The Twitter is not a place for discussion. The place for discussion is face to face, and if anybody who knows me outside of the court, that’s what I’m about. I talk with people, not through the phone or through the text, face to face.”
Two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka was scheduled to compete in the pre-event “Tennis Plays for Peace” exhibition to raise Ukraine relief funds. Yet after Ukrainian players, including Kostyuk, criticized Azarenka’s planned appearance, the USTA later announced…
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